Embroidering machine



T. s. HAGGAR 3,338,194

5 Sheets-Sheet l \j o m m 3 m x I: &

INVENTOR TH EODORE S. W

a ml; 08%

Aug. 29, 1967 EMBROIDERING MACHINE Filed Aug. 6, 1964 Aug. 29, 1967 T. s. HAGGAR 3,338,194

EMBROIDERING MACHINE Filed Aug. 6, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3O SHUTTLE BOX SUPPLY NEEDLE BAR INVENTOR THE00ORE5.H GGAR Aug. 29, 1967 T. s. HAGGAR 3,338,194

EMBROIDERING MACHINE Filed Aug. 6, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ABRIC Fig.4

SHUTTLE 8 0x LATE INVENTOR THEODORESH GGAR United States Patent Gfilice 3,338,194 Patented Aug. 29, 1967 3,338,194 EMBROIDERING MACHINE Theodore S. Haggar, Wayne, N.J., assignor to Haggar Embroidery Corporation, Paterson, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Aug. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 387,890 7 Claims. (Cl. 112-83) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In a Zangs type embroidering machine having a horizontally reciprocating needle bar on which needles are mounted by means of fluid pressure operated motor means for selectively placing groups of needles in working and non-working position while the needle bar is reciprocating.

The present invention relates to embroidering machines of the horizontal needle, pattern controlled, fabric shifting type such as a Zangs machine, and more particularly to an improved arrangement for selectively placing certain needles in a working position and other certain needles in a non-Working position and shifting the fabric so that a design being embroidered thereon follows the working needles whereby needles for embroidering with two or more types of yarn differing in color, texture, diameter or the like may be employed in making a particular design.

Embroidering machines of the foregoing type generally comprise supporting structure, a frame mounted on the structure for lengthwise back and forth and up and down movement in a vertical plane having fabric let-off and take-up rolls thereon to provide a vertical web of fabric, a shuttle box in back of the web of fabric including a front plate formed with a lengthwise extending row of evenly spaced horizontal openings, a needle bar in front of the fabric provided with a lengthwise extending row of horizontal needles thereon each adapted to extend into one of the openings of the shuttle box plate, mechanism for reciprocation of the needle bar to cause the needles to form embroidery stitches on the fabric, and patterning mechanism such as a Jacquard for controlling the movement of the fabric frame so that the needles embroider a design or pattern on the fabric.

It is desirable to produce embroidery designs with yarns of two or more different types but this necessitates rethreading the needles to change over from one type of yarn to another or providing an arrangement for placing certain of the needles in a working position and other certain needles in a non working position.

Heretofore, such yarn changeover arrangements have been proposed but were found to be unsatisfactory for one reason or another such as overloading of the needle bar or lack of freedom to rearrange the working needle pattern in a simple and expeditious manner.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a simple, practical and economical yarn changeover arrangement which overcomes the prior difficulties and disadvantages.

Another object is to provide such an arrangement which is extremely light in weight and is mounted on the needle bar in a manner so as not to increase the mass of the needle bar.

A further object is to provide such an arrangement which can be applied to newly manufactured machines as well as machines already in use.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing objects are accomplished by providing an arrangement which generally comprises a row of needles each mounted on the needle bar by reciprocating motor means for moving the needles into a working and non-working position, valve or switch means for selectively controlling the motor means, pattern mechanism controlled means for shifting the fabric frame to align the fabric design with selected working needles, and pattern mechanism controlled means for operating the valve or switch means when the fabric has been shifted.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has -been chosen for purposes of illustration and description, and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic fragmentary front elevational view of a portion of an embroidering machine of the class described illustrating the essential elements of the machine and an arrangement in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic stepped sectional view of a portion of the yarn changeover arrangement taken along the line 22 on FIG. 1 illustrating the arrangement in greater detail and the control mechanism for it.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematic views illustrating the yarn changeover operations of two adjacent needles working on the same embroidery pattern or design.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings in detail, there is shown a portion of one story of a conventional two story embroidering machine which generally comprises a needle bar 10 having an array of horizontal needles 11 mounted thereon in the manner described hereinafter, mechanism (not shown) for reciprocating the needle bar in a horizontal plane, a vertical frame 12 having a fabric let-off roll 14 mounted thereon at the upper end thereof and having a fabric take-up roll 15 mounted thereon at the lower end thereof for shifting a web of fabric W to be embroidered while facing the needles, a shuttle box 16 and a vertical plate 17 in back of the fabric formed with a horizontally extending row of evenly spaced apertures 18 (FIGS. 3 and 4) for cooperation with the needles, the needles and apertures being so spaced lengthwise that each needle enters at the center of an aperture, and frame moving mechanism 20 under the control of a patterning mechanism such as a Jacquard 21 or the like for moving the frame up and down and sideways to position the fabric so that the needles stitch the fabric to form the desired embroidery designs thereon.

In the foregoing described arrangement, there are a sufficient number of needles to produce the desired designs on the fabric and the needles are so close to each other that only alternate needles are required to operate at the same time; and the frame can be shifted sideways a distance sufficient to allow adjacent needles to work on the same design. Thus, alternate needles can be threaded with yarn of a different color and/ or texture so that one half of the needles can be employed to stitch the fabric with one yarn at one time and the other half of the needles can be employed to stitch the fabric with the other yarn to another time on the same design. As about to be described, such an arrangement provides for rapid change over of different yarns without stopping the machine.

As shown in FIG. 2, each of the needles 11 is mounted on the needle bar by an arrangement which comprises a cylinder 22 secured in an aperture 24 in the needle bar, a slidable piston 25 in the cylinder having a needle mounted thereon which extends through an opening 26 in the cylinder at the end facing the fabric, an opening 27 at the other end of the cylinder for connecting a flexible tube 29 and introducing air under pressure to move the cylinder and the needle thereon outwardly of the cylinder into an effective position to enable the need to operate on the fabric, and a spring 28 between the piston and the needle opening 26 for moving the piston and the needle thereon inwardly into an ineffective position so that the needle will not operate on the fabric when air under pressure is vented from the cylinder.

The needle mounting arrangement and the tubes 29 are extremely light in weight, and the weight of one needle mounting unit does not exceed the Weight of the metal removed from the needle bar to form the apertures 24 for receiving the cylinder, whereby the needle bar carries no extra load.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the opening 27 of the cylinders 22 are connected to a supply of air under pressure 30 in a manner so that alternate needles are rendered effective and ineffective. This is accomplished by a valve 31 such as a shuttle valve which comprises a cylinder 32 having an inlet 34 connected to the compressed air supply 30, outlets 35 and 36 connected to alternate needle cylinder inlets 27 respectively and upper and lower venting outlets 37 and 38; a valve member 39 slidably disposed in the cylinder 32 having a first flange 40 and a reduced portion 41 for alternately connecting the outlet 35 to the inlet 34 and to the vent 37 and having a second flange 42 and a reduced portion 43 for alternately connecting the outlet 36 to the vent 38 and to the inlet 34; and a solenoid 44 for so positioning the valve member 39 which is energized and deenergized by a switch 45 controlled by the Jacquard 21.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, two adjacent needles 11 are shown in their alternate in and out positions while working on an embroidery design E with different yarns. In FIG. 3, the needle at the left is working and the needle at the right is inactive. In FIG. 4, the fabric has been shifted to the right a distance equal to the distance between adjacent apertures 18, and the needle at the right now is working and the needle at the left is inactive. The positioning of the needles is accomplished by the arrangement shown in FIG. 2 and the frame is shifted by the Jacquard controlled mechanism without stopping or slowing down the machine.

While the present invention has been described with an arrangement illustrated in its simplest form with each other or alternate needles 11 of a two needle group working on the same design B, it will be appreciated that groups of three or more needles could be controlled by suitable valve means to selectively place one or more needles of each group in working position when desired and that the fabric frame 12 can be shifted sideways such distances by the mechanism 20.

It will also be appreciated that a group of two or more adjacent needles could be placed in a working position while an adjacent group of two or more adjacent needles are in a non-working position, and that all possible combinations of Working and non-working needles can be achieved by the selection of the appropriate valving and controls.

The needles shown herein are about one inch apart, and the frame can be shifted up and down the full height of the web or panel of fabric and back and forth lengthwise several feet, wherefore such combinations can be made on an embroidering machine of the type disclosed.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the present invention greatly improves horizontal needle embroidering machines by providing a lightweight, durable, simple and practical arrangement for changing over yarns while the machine is in motion.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to 'be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In an embroidery machine of the class described, the combination of a frame arranged to provide a vertical web of fabric and for lengthwise back and forth and vertical up and down movement, a plate in back of the web of fabric formed with a lengthwise extending row of evenly spaced horizontal openings, 3. single needle bar in front of the web of fabric reciprocating horizontally towards and away from the fabric, a row of horizontal needles each adapted to extend into one of said openings at about the center thereof, reciprocating fluid pressure medium operated motor means for individually mounting each of said needles on said needle bar, fluid pressure operated valve means for selectively controlling said motor means to place certain of said needles in a Working position and certain of said other needles in a non-working position, pattern mechanism controlled means for shifting said frame lengthwise a distance at least equal to the distance between the centers of two adjacent openings, and pattern mechanism controlled means for operating said valve means when said shifting means have been rendered effective.

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said motor means each includes a cylinder having a needle opening at one end, a pressure medium inlet at the other end, a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder having one of said needles mounted thereon, a spring in said cylinder between said piston and said needle opening for retracting said needle when pressure medium is released from said cylinder, and flexible tubing connected to said pressure medium inlets for connecting said cylinders to said valve means.

3. A machine according to claim 2, wherein said needle bar is formed with a lengthwise extending row of horizontally extending evenly spaced holes each for securing one of said cylinders therein.

4. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said valve means is constructed and arranged and connected to motor means to place alternate needles in a working position.

5. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said last mentioned means include a solenoid for operating said valve means, and a switch for energizing and de-energizing said solenoid, and a pattern mechanism for controlling said switch.

6. In an embroidering machine of the class described, the combination of a frame arranged to provide a web of fabric and for moving the web of fabric in a given plane back and forth lengthwise and back and forth sidewise, structure in back of the web of fabric formed with a lengthwise extending row of openings spaced evenly, a single needle bar in front of the web of fabric reciprocating horizontally towards and away from the fabric, a row of lengthwise extending needles spaced lengthwise so as to allow said needles to register with said openings, reciprocating motor means on said bar for individually mounting said needles in said row, all of said motor means being capable of operating independently of each other, means individually connected to each of said motor means for powering and effecting energization of said motor means, means for controlling said last mentioned means and connected thereto to selectively place certain of said needles in a working position and others in a non-working 5 6 position in a variety of groups, pattern mechanism con- References Cited trolled means for shifting frame lengthwise a diS- ST P tance at least equal to the distance between the centers of two adjacent said openings, and pattern mechanism con- 669,972 3/1901 Anderson trol switch means connected to said motor energizing 5 2,100,844 11/1937 Foster X means controlling means for rendering the latter effective 2549:065 8/1953 Casperto cause said motor means to extend and withdraw certain 2,768,593 10/1956 Lombard 11279 of said needles during the operation of the needle bar. JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner,

7. In a machine according to claim 6, wherein said individually connected means for powering said motor 10 RICHARD SCANLAN Exammer' means are flexible. 

1. IN AN EMBROIDERY MACHINE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, THE COMBINATION OF A FRAME ARRANGED TO PROVIDE A VERTICAL WEB OF FABRIC AND FOR LENGTHWISE BACK AND FORTH AND VERTICAL UP AND DOWN MOVEMENT, A PLATE IN BACK OF THE WEB OF FABRIC FORMED WITH A LENGTHWISE EXTENDING ROW OF EVENLY SPACED HORIZONTAL OPENINGS, A SINGLE NEEDLE BAR IN FRONT OF THE WEB OF FABRIC RECIPROCATING HORIZONTALLY TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM THE FARBIC, A ROW OF HORIZONTAL NEEDLES EACH ADAPTED TO EXTEND INTO ONE OF SIAD OPENINGS AT ABOUT THE CENTER THEREOF, RECIPROCATING FLUID PRESSURE MEDIUM OPERATED MOTOR MEANS FOR INDIVIDUALLY MOUNTING EACH OF SAID NEEDLES ON SAID NEEDLE BAR, FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED VALVE MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY CONTROLLING SAID MOTOR MEANS TO PLACE CERTAIN OF SAID NEEDLES IN A WORKING POSITION AND CERTAIN OF SAID OTHER NEDDLES IN A NON-WORKING POSITION, PATTERN MECHANISM CONTROLLED MEANS FOR SHIFTING SAID FRAME LENGTHWISE A DISTANCE AT LEAST EQUAL TO THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE CENTERS OF TWO ADJACENT OPENINGS, AND PATTERN MECHANISM CONTROLLED MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID VAVLE MEANS WHEN SAID SHIFTING MEANS HAVE BEEN RENDERED EFFECTIVE. 